Is the subscription required to view sleep stats?

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Fitbit,

May I just voice my disappointment with the fact that you make Sleeping Heart Rate and Restlessness a paid feature now! This is a gross business practice. What's next, I'll have to pay to track activities or access my daily heart rate logs? Fair enough that the access to extra features such as workouts is extra, but sleep tracking is standard feature of Fitbit. Outrageous. 

Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity 

[SunsetRunner]

@G-Man_505 my thoughts exactly 😑

[KMC76]

It was more than a score. It also showed portion of HR below resting during sleep. I purchased a watch for the HR, among other features. But to access my own heath information I now have to pay you again.  It feels like ransom.  It’s my data! Don’t charge me to access it.  Are you also using my data for your own gain? Research? Selling to other companies? 

[SunsetRunner]

Yep. I’m literally giving up. I’m going to Garmin. I confirmed with them that they do not charge a subscription fee to fully access your own data...

[Gainn]

With companies looking at purchasing fitbit it just looks to me like the premium thing is just a way to make the company look more profitable to bump the share price up a bit.

The only thing that is clear - Sleep score is useless without context to show why you got a high or low rating. 

[slbailey1]

The way I understand it, Fitbit added a third heart rate to calculate the Sleep Score.  That heart rate is called sleeping heart rate and is different from the current heart rate and resting heart rate which we can currently see for free.

I think Fitbit is thinking that basic information is free and any details must be paid for.  The Sleep Score is basic information, which is based on the sleeping heart rate, so it is free.  Any details about how it is calculated and detail analysis of the data must be paid for.

I am fine with see just the current sleep breakdown between awake time, REM sleep, light sleep, deep sleep, and the sleep score.

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey everyone! 

Your sleep stages and heart rate information are still available in your Fitbit app.

Fitbit Premium is just a personalized resource in the app that you can have access to. This will be Guided Programs which are programs that will help you with your fitness life, in these programs you will find some that will help you improve your nutrition and try new workouts regimens etc. 

The insights that you will receive are messages that will be personalized based on your activity, habits and progress throughout programs. 

The third option that you will receive is Fitbit Coach, in this app you will have a variety of guided workouts for all fitness levels. 

I'll be around if you need further assistance. 

[SunsetRunner]

Yeah. Thanks. I won’t be around. Garmin arrives Tuesday.

Sent from my iPhone

[bitfabrikken]

@SilviaFitbit 

Wrong. If you do not have premium, your heart rate graphs in the app aren't shown - instead little dots are shown, as if you are not wearing the watch. Subscribe to Premium, and voilá, the dots are replaced with the real data.

I've made a new topic about this where I go into a little more details, and explain some things about false advertising etc.

[SunsetRunner]

@bitfabrikken could you forward me the link to your topic? Would be interested in some details of what you're describing

[bitfabrikken]

@SunsetRunner 

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Fitbit-Premium-Coach/Versa-2-FALSE-ADVERTISING-Basic-features-locked-behind-premium-subscription/td-p/379184

[ph30n1x]

Looks like they have already blocked the thread, like when I stated that is was false advertising in Australia

[SunsetRunner]

@bitfabrikken looks like your topic has been blocked or deleted 😕

[bitfabrikken]

@ph30n1x 

@SunsetRunner 

Look like my mobile messed up the link - maybe this one works: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Fitbit-Premium-Coach/Versa-2-FALSE-ADVERTISING-Basic-features-locked-behind-premium-subscription/m-p/3791846#M3987

Otherwise let me know and I'll post a link to a public google document I made as precaution.

I will be submitting complaints to the EU, App Store, Google Play and more if nothing is done re: the false advertising. I'll probably need someone to also submit one for the US as I'm not a US citizen.

[Arthsterorama]

Here is an example of what you are doing...

I buy a app on my phone so I can read e-books. One of the functions is that I can upload my own e-books to my phone and read them through this app... but now I have to pay a monthly subscription in order to see this book that I am the owner off... 

That is exactly what fitbit is doing to us. it's our information that we upload to fitbit via a smart little wrist watch, which we now have to pay a subscription for in order to see. 

Looking at the comments from the moderators I am getting the feeling that just like the South African food database which we have been BEGGING fitbit to implement for the last 5 or 6 years, we are going round in circles. This tells me that we are being brushed off. 

this also tells me that when my fitbit reaches its inevitable demise again, instead of forking out another boat load of money for half a system (Subscription being the other half) I am just going to take my money and switch to your slightly more expensive but subscription free competition.

The fitness tracker market isn't that small that companies can afford to try and milk customers... there are other options available to us. 

thanks fitbit its been a blast.

P.S I hope that fitbit will provide the moderators with a better list of answers soon. I feel for you guys having to rehash the same thing over and over. 

[SpyderBlades]

I know I'm late to the party, but honestly I hadn't updated my Fitbit app for awhile.  Just this morning, I see this locked symbol with features only available to premium...  I had no idea they were pushing this kind of cheesy sales tactic.

I mean, I expect this kind of thing if I am using a completely free app but I paid for this piece of hardware and part of the decision to buy was that Fitbit came with a good app. 

If you were going to make new features and lock them behind a pay wall, then you should not be advertising this in the app I already purchased.  Fitbit has irreparably damaged their reputation for me now and I will be seriously looking at other competing devices when I'm ready to buy new again. 

It's not so much about the money as it is about the principal.  You just made me feel like I have an annoying telemarketer or a sleazy car salesman on my wrist instead of a trusted friend.  

Seriously!  Take these things off the existing app if you aren't going to provide them.  I don't expect advertising on something I paid for.  

[SunsetRunner]

The fact that this was voted as best answer is ridiculous. What several would like to know is how does Fitbit think it's right to charge a person extra to see the data that their own body is producing and that Fitbit gets to use for its purposes for free? I think this is ridiculous and only just reactivated my account to reply to this as I am leaving Fitbit for Garmin. They aren't charging extra for this kind of information especially after paying that much for a device, be it the Fitbit 3 or the Vivosmart4. This "bright" idea will lose Fitbit customers, counting this one. As with most of the replies from Fitibit on this board, this reply is straight out of a robot script with no thought as to the actual people that are trying to be loyal customers.

[Gainn]

Well, that being chosen as best answer was enough to convince me to buy a vivoactive 4.

So good job I guess? 

[SpyderBlades]

I couldn't agree more.  I will be checking out the Garmin units too, I use Garmin GPS's at work all the time and they have always been rock solid and dependable.  Also, the Samsung fit device seems like a good lower cost alternative, but I still need to do more research.  I'll probably keep using this Versa until the battery goes or it or any problems arise then I'll dump it.  

In today's ever changing world of tech, these companies can't be allowed to get away with unscrupulous tactics like Fitbit is trying to pull.  As you mention it, I get even more annoyed that they use my heart rate data while sleeping for their own profit but do not even let me see it without paying a ridiculous subscription.  

[SunsetRunner]

I bit the bullet and got a garmin and I'm VERY pleased so far.  Good luck everybody!

[SpyderBlades]

I'm going to check out Garmin units online right now.  Thanks for the info!